The iconic role of James Bond is a coveted position that only a small group of British actors has been tasked with playing, and former 007 star Pierce Brosnan has suggested that Tom Hardy play the role next.
"I think Tom Hardy could be a good Bond," Brosnan, 65, told The Mail on Sunday Event magazine. "I'd be happy to see him do it. You need an actor who can put a bit of wiggle into it—that's what makes Bond."
Bond is a fictional British Secret Service agent first derived from author Ian Fleming's popular spy novels of the same name in 1953. The character debuted on film in the 1963 release of Dr. No, which featured Scottish actor Sean Connery as the first-ever Bond. Brosnan became the fifth actor cast as Bond in 1994. During his time in the role, he starred in four Bond films—including Tomorrow Never Dies—from 1995 to 2002. Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton are also among a small list of European actors that have portrayed the spy.
Daniel Craig, additionally known for Logan Lucky and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, currently plays Bond. The 50-year-old English actor is filming the franchise's 25th installment now, which he's confirmed will be his last 007 film. While Brosnan endorsed Hardy, he still acknowledged Craig's work as the famous secret agent.
"Daniel Craig has been an incredible Bond," Brosnan said. "He's very physical, he looks lethal. You genuinely believe this is someone who could kill a man."
Hardy, a British actor, has previously starred in the action films Dunkirk, The Dark Knight Rises and Mad Max: Fury Road. He's additionally set to star in Marvel's anti-superhero film Venom in October.
As Craig's time with Bond comes to a close, other actors have been rumored to replace him. Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class), Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy), Tom Hiddleston (Thor) and Luke Evans (Fast & Furious franchise) are among the European actors thought to be contenders for the next Bond. Luther star Idris Elba has spoken out against his association with the franchise after rumors swirled regarding his potential casting, however.
"At first it was harmless—oh, I know, wouldn't it be great? Now it's started off racial debates," Elba, 45, told the Telegraph in 2015. "I'm probably the most famous Bond actor in the world, and I've not even played the role."
Craig's last film, Bond 25, is slated for release in November 2019.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Dory Jackson is a New York-based entertainment journalist from Maryland. She graduated from Randolph-Macon College—in May 2016—with a focus in Communication ... Read more
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